GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF NORTH CAROLINA

SESSION 1989

S	1 

SENATE BILL 359*

Short Title:  Degradable Six-Pack Ring.	(Public)
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Sponsors: Senators Basnight; and Taft.
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Referred to:  Environment and Natural Resources.
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March 8, 1989

A BILL TO BE ENTITLED
AN ACT TO REQUIRE BEVERAGE CONTAINER YOKES TO BE DEGRADABLE.
The General Assembly of North Carolina enacts:
Section 1.  Article 52 of Chapter 14 of the General Statutes is amended to add a new section to read:
"§ 14-399.2.  Prohibition of nondegradable plastic beverage container yokes.
(a)	It is determined and declared as a matter of legislative findings that the use of nondegradable plastic beverage container yokes or connectors are harmful to the natural environment of North Carolina.  Due to the long life of such containers, when they are not properly disposed of they cause death and injury to fish, birds, and other wildlife; damage the aesthetic beauty of the State's waters, beaches, parks, trails, roadsides, and other public areas; and contribute to solid waste disposal problems.
(b)	No person may manufacture, store, sell, use or distribute for sale or use any beverage containers connected to each other by a separate holding device or yoke constructed of plastic rings (or other material) that do not decompose by photodegradation, biodegradation, or chemical degradation within a reasonable time upon exposure to the elements.
(c)	Any person who manufactures, sells, or distributes beverage carriers in violation of this section shall be guilty of a misdemeanor punishable by a fine of not less than fifty dollars ($50.00) nor more than two hundred dollars ($200.00).  In lieu of a fine or any portion thereof, or in addition to a fine, any violation of this section may also be punished by a term of community service."
Sec. 2.  The Legislative Research Commission may study the questions of plastic pollution and its impact on the marine, estuarine, and land environments, the impacts of litter on North Carolina's environment and tourism, and the measures that can be taken to address these issues.
Sec. 3.  Section 1 of this act shall become effective January 1, 1990.  Section 2 of this act is effective upon ratification.